New Delhi/Kolkata, Mar 23 (UNI) The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) today placed former national champion Soumyajit Ghosh, accused of rape and molestation a teenager in West Bengal, was placed under provisional suspension.
The TTFI, the supreme governing body of Table Tennis in India, in a release today said that "its executive body has been placed Soumyajit Ghosh under provisional suspension, pending final outcome of the police investigation and court verdict, if any, on the alleged rape charges against him by a teenager.
During the suspension, the paddler will not be able to participate in any tournament, national or international.
" The EB, based on the legal opinion sought by TTFI, unanimously decided after discussing the matter with its members through a video conferencing earlier in the day. The decision of the EB is as follows:
" The Executive Board of the TTFI, taking cognizance of the media reports and the FIR filed against Soumyajit Ghosh, has unanimously decided to suspend the player and restrain him from participation in all tournaments until further orders.
" During its deliberations, the EB took notice of the IPC sections (376, 417, 513, 120(B) and Section 4 of the POCSO Act) under which the Barasat Police (WB) has charged Ghosh. Accordingly, the EB members felt that the charges levelled against Ghosh are of grievous nature and they warranted placing him under provisional suspension immediately. EB suggested to TTFI that the player and all authorities concerned should be informed forthwith of the decision"
Meanwhile. the West Bengal police is considering to summon Table Tennis player Soumyajit Ghosh.
An FIR has been lodged with the Barasat women's police station, where the Arjuna awardee paddler has been booked under the IPC sections for rape, criminal conspiracy, causing miscarriage without the woman's consent and cheating.
The allegations have been leveled by the 18-year-old girl and her father.
Soumyajit Ghosh, former national champion from Siliguri in north Bengal, was now training in Germany for the April 4-15 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
Though Ghosh denied the allegations, he may be summoned by the West Bengal police to face questions after the complaint lodged against him.
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